How to convert H.264/MOV to DVD/MPEG-2

[Nexin]

Encoding via vfw for .mov files

Anyone know which if any of these two give problems with xp os.

Any other vfw codecs for encode/decode that are better.


Not FFDShow - interfears with xp os i'm using.
Not Avisynth - scripting for it to lazy to learn (for many a year)

[nm]

Encoding via vfw for .mov files

Anyone know which if any of these two give problems with xp os.

I'd say that QuickTime gives problems in any operating system except perhaps Mac OS.

Any other vfw codecs for encode/decode that are better.

x264vfw for encoding. But what's your source? If it's not live capture, it would be better to avoid VFW. There are many easy GUIs for x264.

Not FFDShow - interfears with xp os i'm using.

Really. How?

[LoRd_MuldeR]

Nexin, please read our forum rules (http://forum.doom9.org/forum-rules.htm) again and edit your post/title in accordance to rule 12 ;)

Moreover your post is completely confusing. Video for Windows (VFW) and QuickTime are two completely separate technologies. Moreover MOV is a container format, neither a video format nor a Codec.

Last but not least, how does Avisynth fit in? Avisynth is a frame-sever that decodes + processes video and delivers the "raw" video data to the host program. Nothing more, nothing less.

Maybe you start by telling us what exactly you are tying to achieve...

[Nexin]

Nexin, please read our forum rules (http://forum.doom9.org/forum-rules.htm) again and edit your post/title in accordance to rule 12 ;)

Moreover your post is completely confusing. Video for Windows (VFW) and QuickTime are two completely separate technologies. Moreover MOV is a container format, neither a video format nor a Codec.

Last but not least, how does Avisynth fit in? Avisynth is a frame-sever that decodes + processes video and delivers the "raw" video data to the host program. Nothing more, nothing less.

Maybe you start by telling us what exactly you are tying to achieve...


Ok was needing firstly a vfw codec for virtualdub and before testing with other softwares. Virtualdub can load vfw filters, the reason asking for vfw. I have tried virtualdub using quicktime dsh filters, neither two of the filters worked with virtualdub.

Mov is a container correct it should be avc at least thats what gspot and mediainfo is telling me.


Avisynth script i read somewhere before asking could load any video and manipulate ready other software to use. Come to think of it doesn't have any codecs does it ! Really must stop reading rubbish sites and read here more where people know what they are talking about.




Avisynth i have tried to use it few times over the years. Always give up for the scripts, needing a good gui for it.

Where i see the video like virtual dub and affects of adding filters as with virtualdub. See the script live adding, replacing and removing with adding and remove of filters and like tasks. Able to save the script and load one, so on. Basically i suppose virtualdub 'ish for avisynth.

[Nexin]

I'd say that QuickTime gives problems in any operating system except perhaps Mac OS.



x264vfw for encoding. But what's your source? If it's not live capture, it would be better to avoid VFW. There are many easy GUIs for x264.



Really. How?

Thanks for the advice will steer clear of Quicktime and use alternative one instead.

Mediainfo

Format Mpeg4
Codec AVC


Destination output will be mpeg-2

[nm]

Mediainfo

Format Mpeg4
Codec AVC

Destination output will be mpeg-2

Ok, so you intend to encode MPEG-4 AVC/H.264 in MOV files to MPEG-2. Why do you want to do this? Are you making DVDs or do you have some device that can only play MPEG-2?

[Nexin]

End destination dvd, will save output files as mpeg2 or ts then demuxed to elementary. Or save as elementary mpv and ac3 es streams.

Use Muxman to make the dvd video_ts contents, later when have plenty of video to fill a dvd. Using other video_ts work adding them to one dvd.

[SeeMoreDigital]

To follow on from nm's question... Why do you want to encode to MPEG-2 DVD?

[Nexin]

First please accept appology for pre title of this thread. The forum pop up for new pm messages wasn't working at all. Have a check mark for the correct setting just never did it, so missed two pm posts about that. Nice to see someone has made the change for me. :)

If you are browsing the forums when you receive a new private message, the system can pop-up a notification box informing you of the new message.
[a check is here] Show New Private Message Notification Pop-up

Re: nm and smd question, yes i have four dvd players that can play only mpeg1 and mpeg2. These are older players two with 5.1 and componment outs and two basic players, they do all i need from them.


I will have a look via a virtual xp os software, using a copy of current pc c: dir to test these two. I will try alternative first, since i think quicktime itself may riddle the registry such as the likes of Symantec (norton or what its known as now) products do. Millions of registry entries bloat and slow any pc, and can never be removed via there uninstallers fully. Also since comment above telling me quicktime on windows could be problematic.

From there i will know which if any are best to live on real xp os.

[nm]

Also since comment above telling me quicktime on windows could be problematic.

Yep, and it wouldn't help you in this DVD conversion task at all. It's likely that you also don't need QuickTime alternative since many encoding apps support MOV container and H.264 streams directly (through FFmpeg's libavformat and libavcodec, usually).

I'd suggest learning a tiny bit of AviSynth to read the files in and filter the video. It's well worth the trouble. FFMS2 (http://code.google.com/p/ffmpegsource/) AviSynth source plugin should read your files fine.

Encode to MPEG-2 with HC Encoder (http://hank315.nl/). It supports AviSynth input. You can use AvsP or VirtualDubMod as an AviSynth preview GUI.

Biggest problem in this task could be converting the framerate and possibly resizing interlaced video if your sources are 1080i and the framerate doesn't match your DVD region. Could you describe the content more accurately? HD/SD, interlaced or progressive, what's the framerate? Are the files from a video camera, which model? Full MediaInfo output might also help a bit.

Are you targeting PAL or NTSC DVDs?

[Nexin]

I demuxed the mov container with ffmpeg output to video and audio .h264 and .acc. Nothing will see this h264 stream infact the problem is it cnnot be seeked. So even with installing h264 vfw and then trying with hax 264 vfw while they do work. They don't for these demuxed h264 streams, even players vlc, mpc, mplayer etc all refuse to play any mov demuxed h264 stream. Even tried renaming .mp4 (container i know) and .m4v

Maybe it's a bug with ffmpeg with demux making these h264 output streams bad. I quick tested with mpeg2 demuxed the video stream will play in players.

The same however shows some players are rubbish when done with xvid. VLC stalls and refuses to play, mphc and mpc will show picture and then refuse to play, both where left a while and still nothing. MPlayer well done what a fantastic player you are, actualy use it all the time, since your skip forwards and backwards is best for any player ever (I frame skip i guess it is) done with the <- -> navigate keys (the ones next to Ctrl the key). MPlayer plays itbut cannot seek it, which i guess is what the other players problem is, not able to seek it. CHecking with vlc messages shows this, seeking not possible and then exits without trying to play it as mplayer can do. PC video players wars heheh :D

[nm]

I demuxed the mov container with ffmpeg output to video and audio .h264 and .acc. Nothing will see this h264 stream infact the problem is it cnnot be seeked.

Then don't demux but use the MOV directly as I suggested. Or remux to MP4 (with MP4Box/Yamb) or MKV (with mkvmerge(gui)).

[Nexin]

Remux good one will try that since h264 will wrap into an mp4 container.

Since mp4 is accepted by virtualdub job maybe good to process to mpeg2. Have read of recently about ympeg an mpeg2 encoder for virtualdub, so able to use filters and output file as mpeg2. Though for virtualdub that is so highly thought of in the community why no one else has done this. Its not like there has been any third party support for virtual dub there has been loads. Must be a reason why there is only one so far ympeg that has done this, maybe there are problems with doing this. Such as some filters don't work with it or some other, will find out as will try it soon. Have the software, just hope everything works out of the box for mpeg2 testing with virtualdub. Without silly complications as other sofwares in past had, email them get code or needs to be online to work. Any of that and it's instant uninstall bye bye software. Hope it does work with the filters, we'll see.

Won't bother with mkv, not an mkv fan, it needs work on encapsulating mpeg2 streams with ac3 correctly. So they don't cause errors with vlc for example, see with vlc message console set to highest report level.

[nm]

Have read of recently about ympeg an mpeg2 encoder for virtualdub, so able to use filters and output file as mpeg2.

Well, YMPEG will cost you 30 dollars (the free version probably draws a logo or a watermark on the video). I did a quick search but didn't find any quality comparisons, so I wouldn't expect much from it.

Until someone proves otherwise, Avidemux with lavc MPEG-2 encoding is probably a better choice for DVD output. It will work in pretty much the same way as VirtualDub, GUI-wise, and it should eat those MOV files as they are.


Won't bother with mkv, not an mkv fan, it needs work on encapsulating mpeg2 streams with ac3 correctly. So they don't cause errors with vlc for example, see with vlc message console set to highest report level.

If you're talking about this (http://trac.videolan.org/vlc/ticket/3382) (and this (https://www.bunkus.org/bugzilla/show_bug.cgi?id=475)), it's been fixed 7 months ago in mkvmerge:

2010-03-19 Moritz Bunkus <moritz@bunkus.org>

* mkvmerge: bug fix: Timecodes for MPEG-1/2 tracks are calculated
properly, especially for B frames. Patch by Xavier Duret (see
AUTHORS). Fix for bug 475.

Anyway, it doesn't concern H.264 tracks at all.

I like Matroska and mkvmerge because it's developed actively and professionally. Never had big problems with it myself, unlike with pretty much all the other containers and especially the muxing tools.

[Nexin]

No i thought that about YMPEG also after writing, maybe HC_ENC developer could make it available into virtualdub. Inside not outside since then would have problems with the many filters available. Did an extensive search and really suprised that no one apart from YMPEg so far i have found hasn't coded into virtualdub. THis i understand would make virtualdub software for all to use instead of the all-in-one converter types.

While were at it why hasn't virtualdub developer ever thought of making virtualdub an avisynth editor also like with the features i wrote above http://forum.doom9.org/showthread.php?p=1452717#post1452717

VLC i did read number last entery is 5 weeks ago, couldn't read number two wanted a certificate accepted (i don't do that). Tough i noticed this with latest vlc from about 1-2 months ago when i saw the same problem. It wasn't just a vlc problem, it only showed what was wrong. with the mkv demuxed and the saved mpeg2 and ac3 files, no software would work with them, not even muxman. So it is the mkv at fault, maybe mkv itself or the tool that converted them into mkv container.

As you say nothing to do with H264, so to end this post from me i have used an all-in-one converter. Damn it was the only thing that would work, why there is no filters available to do this, when these all-in-one have dll files able to do it. I expect they were .ax filters made into .dll files to keep others away from using them. Anyway i have now all the files as uncompressed avi and pcm for audio. Now able to use with any application and filters to test with and then to mpeg2 for dvd later.

Have to laugh i did try ffdshow (did a sector based backup to restore after trying). Damn it's crap, like to place itself high on the codecs merits list (why!). Then it didn't work for what i needed from it, Just wasn't upto the job. Now i told it not to use with mplayer to see the difference. While mplayer with using ffmpeg internal codecs to show the mov files. ffdshow couldn't do the same with any other player i selected for it to view the mov files with, not even wmp would play them. While virtual dub would load them when remuxed to .mp4 they there was no picture although was sound. This was before using virtualdub filters and later trying with mp4 and quicktime virtualdub filters. I had made sure no codecs were installed os that have quicktime at all except for ffdshow, incase of conflicts. Also since i know it should be able to do it since mplayer internal ffmpeg codecs were playing the mov videos. I did give it a good go for two evenings and still nothing.

AS said have done this through all-in-one converter without modification of the files. Unless you think no change to video or audio saving as uncompressed avi and pcm audio is changing it. Though am saddend having to use all-in-one software to do this. Which is showing up all the softwares that are meant to be better than the all-in-one types. Go figure which are king of the pile now, all-in-one thats for sure - how sad :(


Thanks nm for your input here, got there in the end, well sort of. At least now able to use with any software without problems. :)

[nm]

VLC i did read number last entery is 5 weeks ago, couldn't read number two wanted a certificate accepted (i don't do that).

Why not? The certificate is only for SSL, which makes your browsing more secure: no plaintext going over the Internet.

Tough i noticed this with latest vlc from about 1-2 months ago when i saw the same problem. It wasn't just a vlc problem, it only showed what was wrong. with the mkv demuxed and the saved mpeg2 and ac3 files, no software would work with them, not even muxman. So it is the mkv at fault, maybe mkv itself or the tool that converted them into mkv container.

It was a bug in mkvmerge, as I clearly indicated above. Files muxed with older mkvmerge versions are affected and I'm not sure if they can be fixed easily, so you may need to remux from the source streams.

As you say nothing to do with H264, so to end this post from me i have used an all-in-one converter. Damn it was the only thing that would work

I'm not sure what you mean by all-in-one, but there are many alternatives that would have worked just as well, especially if all you did was decode to raw video/audio. Did you try Avidemux?

Have to laugh i did try ffdshow (did a sector based backup to restore after trying). Damn it's crap, like to place itself high on the codecs merits list (why!).

I guess that would be to make it easy to use for ordinary people. Merits are adjustable if you prefer it lower.

Then it didn't work for what i needed from it, Just wasn't upto the job. Now i told it not to use with mplayer to see the difference.

Well, MPlayer doesn't interface with DirectShow, so it won't use ffdshow at all. No matter how you set ffdshow.

While mplayer with using ffmpeg internal codecs to show the mov files. ffdshow couldn't do the same with any other player i selected for it to view the mov files with, not even wmp would play them.

Sounds like a MOV splitter issue. FFdshow is not a splitter and you need to install a suitable one separately. QuickTime Alternative / QT Lite should include a decent DirectShow splitter for MOV files.

While virtual dub would load them when remuxed to .mp4 they there was no picture although was sound.

VirtualDub is essentially a VFW program and you were trying to use a DirectShow decoder with it. Did you have VDub's DShowInputDriver properly installed? This functionality is not included in VirtualDub out-of-the-box.

Though am saddend having to use all-in-one software to do this. Which is showing up all the softwares that are meant to be better than the all-in-one types. Go figure which are king of the pile now, all-in-one thats for sure - how sad :(

Well, since VirtualDub is your only alternative to the all-in-one stuff, you'll need to get used to disappointments with modern video codecs such as MPEG-2. VFW requires hackery around B-frames (http://forum.doom9.org/showthread.php?s=&threadid=80430) and that's why codec developers avoid it. VFW was basically deprecated 15 years ago but it just won't die...

[pandy]

Use ffmpeg or mencoder - vfw not works well with MPEG-2 - if cmd is to much (laziness as You say) then go for AVIDemux (or even VLC should work in stream transcode mode well)

[Nexin]

After all of the above i have decided the course of action is not to bother with internet media. As i did when i saw how bad quality flv is long ago, media maybe getting better ending tat flv reign, but the need to deal with those. The all-in-one i refer to is the multi decode, remux and encode softwares out there, that use any codec possible from any source going.

avi (uncompressed) and mpeg2 is where i started and where i will continue. Maybe this will change in time if ever bd comes down in price. Or for the better one that replaces bd media. For noe mpeg2, es or ts is dvd, easier to stay with that.

LM (if reading) Avidemux does have problems like any software has, even the problems that makes it harder for users to use the software. Avidemux mainl problems i remember are, poor editing and then needing to add edits to a list (batch list) to save as a file. While not alone since virtualdub is rubbish at editing aswell. Even if had a decent editor would be of little use since not all media plays in the gui (good media), using many varied pc and setup (all win32 xp). I only figured out one problem wasn't a bug as such, was with loading mpeg2 audio streams (mpa etc). Having to be loaded as an mp3 stream, needs support for loading mpeg2 audio streams since they are not mpeg3. Cannot say more atm, since i'm not able use avidemux for the above comments, i don't it.

Imagine avidemux becomes what it should have been all along a video editor. And then Avery does the same for virtualdub editing, that would be good news for avidemux and virtualdub users. Most likely increase the user base for both softwares, since many other people can easily use them for editing, that is not so simple to do as they are now.

[nm]

LM (if reading) Avidemux does have problems like any software has, even the problems that makes it harder for users to use the software.

It's also developed further and bugs are squashed. The underlying FFmpeg libraries and other codecs are constantly improved.

Avidemux mainl problems i remember are, poor editing and then needing to add edits to a list (batch list) to save as a file.

There's an edit list, but it's almost completely invisible to the user. Cuts are shown directly to the user. I don't see how this is different from any other decent NLE?

The only exposed batch list is a job list for encoding jobs. This is also a very nice feature because people may want to set lots of encoding jobs running overnight or over a weekend, for example.

Even if had a decent editor would be of little use since not all media plays in the gui (good media), using many varied pc and setup (all win32 xp).

Well, now you're just ranting. Has there ever been a video format that any PC can handle without issues, no matter how misconfigured it is? I'm sure there are issues with MPEG-2 as well.

I only figured out one problem wasn't a bug as such, was with loading mpeg2 audio streams (mpa etc). Having to be loaded as an mp3 stream, needs support for loading mpeg2 audio streams since they are not mpeg3.

Loading MPEG-1 layer 2 works perfectly well through the MP3 option, so what's the problem? The only issue I see is the misdirecting name of the input option in the dialog. Avidemux is open source software, so you can easily propose a patch or even change it for yourself. Would you be happy if it read "MPEG Audio (layer 1, 2 and 3)", for example? Then the people who are only used to MPEG-4 ASP with MP3 tracks might be confused...

Cannot say more atm, since i'm not able use avidemux for the above comments, i don't it.

I must say that you are a very difficult customer, sir. There's simply no way pleasing you?!

[Nexin]

It's also developed further and bugs are squashed. The underlying FFmpeg libraries and other codecs are constantly improved.
Just as with many software they all are relying on core codecs ffmpeg etc.

There's an edit list, but it's almost completely invisible to the user. Cuts are shown directly to the user. I don't see how this is different from any other decent NLE?
HOw about doing it a more clever way. Edit on the timeline for the whole task.

The only exposed batch list is a job list for encoding jobs. This is also a very nice feature because people may want to set lots of encoding jobs running overnight or over a weekend, for example.
After process above then the ability to send the whole timeline edits to a batch as a one filename job.

Both of the above would make avidemux and virtualdub very users friendly, that is doesn't scare away old and new users needing to use the editor.


Well, now you're just ranting. Has there ever been a video format that any PC can handle without issues, no matter how misconfigured it is? I'm sure there are issues with MPEG-2 as well.
Main point was that with many formats it hasn't the abilty to play them smoothly (tested on many pc's). Then again this could be a decoder issue or bug with ffmpeg codec or other that is been used, and not avidemux at fault.



Loading MPEG-1 layer 2 works perfectly well through the MP3 option, so what's the problem? The only issue I see is the misdirecting name of the input option in the dialog. Avidemux is open source software, so you can easily propose a patch or even change it for yourself. Would you be happy if it read "MPEG Audio (layer 1, 2 and 3)", for example? Then the people who are only used to MPEG-4 ASP with MP3 tracks might be confused...
Unless has been fixed since last used avidemux the output audio track is seen as mp3 in players. It should be seen as mpeg-1 layer 2 not layer-3

[nm]

HOw about doing it a more clever way. Edit on the timeline for the whole task.

Well, I've used "cut marks" -based cutting tools a lot, but I don't think the Avidemux/VirtualDub way is necessarily less intuitive. Joins and some other edits might get messy on the timeline.

Avidemux would certainly need an undo action though.

After process above then the ability to send the whole timeline edits to a batch as a one filename job.

I think it sort of works that way behind the GUI, but haven't read the code.

Main point was that with many formats it hasn't the abilty to play them smoothly (tested on many pc's).

Ah yes, I misunderstood you there.

Then again this could be a decoder issue or bug with ffmpeg codec or other that is been used, and not avidemux at fault.

If you were playing HD H.264 video, that's difficult on most CPUs when using standard libavcodec which only has slice-based multithreading. Ffmpeg-mt would help, but I don't know if anyone has built Avidemux with it.

Unless has been fixed since last used avidemux the output audio track is seen as mp3 in players. It should be seen as mpeg-1 layer 2 not layer-3

I just tried this with Avidemux 2.5.2 and ffmpeg shows the track as "mp2" in the output file. That means layer-2, and it also plays back perfectly.

[Nexin]

Well, I've used "cut marks" -based cutting tools a lot, but I don't think the Avidemux/VirtualDub way is necessarily less intuitive. Joins and some other edits might get messy on the timeline.

Avidemux would certainly need an undo action though.
Maybe a visible cutlist interactive windows may help them both.

Again need able to edit as many sections on the same time line, at the same time.

Then again this could be a decoder issue or bug with ffmpeg codec or other that is been used, and not avidemux at fault.
If you were playing HD H.264 video, that's difficult on most CPUs when using standard libavcodec which only has slice-based multithreading. Ffmpeg-mt would help, but I don't know if anyone has built Avidemux with it.

The two H264 video i have played so far, did so on all pcs, then after i deleted them.

Haven't edited any H.264 files yet. Exception is nearly edited the one this thread was aimed at. Those files also since have been.


Unless has been fixed since last used avidemux the output audio track is seen as mp3 in players. It should be seen as mpeg-1 layer 2 not layer-3
I just tried this with Avidemux 2.5.2 and ffmpeg shows the track as "mp2" in the output file. That means layer-2, and it also plays back perfectly.
It's good news that has been fixed since i last tried avidemux.

Maybe other things have been fixed, will now get a download copy and try it again.


>>No go i got version 2.5.3 r6689 and the problems start. Since this is v2.5.3 i would want it to be installed in a seperate new folder as Avidemux v2.5.3


Am not able to install this new version, why !...

1. Now need more than one avidemux version installed (multi avidemux install).

1. For other users this also could be because the need to keep versions seperate, some work better than others or other. Or for unknown possible unstable beta versions, to try them. Or as i needed it is a whole new version to be installed, where still needing to keep the old version installed and working. So have two installs v2.5.2 (r unknown) and v2.5.3 r6689

2. Each version installed should have its own settings, kept in its own install folder, used only from there. Or have version numbered install folders to keep them seperate. Since settings maybe be different between different builds and versions, or user needs each install settings to be different.

3. Uninstall registry string name to be more precise avidemux 2.5 naming doesn't help uninstallers. v2.5.2 and v.2.5.3 (maybe also v2.5.3 r1234 for hot unstable builds). Then can be installed and uninstalled correctly.

4. The registry for avidemux itself needs to be seperate for each version, number 'ing as above.

5. Installer to ask user for install location, so the above will work. Have v2.5.3 (or latest build) directory selected first, for any users that need a fast upgrade for current version.

[nm]

The two H264 video i have played so far, did so on all pcs, then after i deleted them.

Since libavcodec is not multithreaded for all H.264 videos, you'd need a CPU that has a very high single-core performance. An overclocked Nehalem, for example. Or build Avidemux with ffmpeg-mt...


>>No go i got version 2.5.3 r6689 and the problems start. Since this is v2.5.3 i would want it to be installed in a seperate new folder as Avidemux v2.5.3

2.5.4 is now released.

Am not able to install this new version, why !...

1. Now need more than one avidemux version installed (multi avidemux install).

Download ZIP packages instead of the installers. Unpack to a folder of your choice and run from there. Add a shortcut to the launch menu or the desktop if you want. Multiple versions coexist nicely when installed this way.

1. For other users this also could be because the need to keep versions seperate, some work better than others or other. Or for unknown possible unstable beta versions, to try them. Or as i needed it is a whole new version to be installed, where still needing to keep the old version installed and working. So have two installs v2.5.2 (r unknown) and v2.5.3 r6689

I doubt ordinary users have the need to switch between versions.

2. Each version installed should have its own settings, kept in its own install folder, used only from there. Or have version numbered install folders to keep them seperate. Since settings maybe be different between different builds and versions, or user needs each install settings to be different.

[...]

4. The registry for avidemux itself needs to be seperate for each version, number 'ing as above.


Avidemux keeps all its stuff in the folder where it's installed. Only the installer adds registry entries, AFAIK.

[Nexin]

Download ZIP packages instead of the installers. Unpack to a folder of your choice and run from there. Add a shortcut to the launch menu or the desktop if you want. Multiple versions coexist nicely when installed this way.


Avidemux keeps all its stuff in the folder where it's installed. Only the installer adds registry entries, AFAIK.
Wonder why i have settings also in documents and settings\myuserfolder\application data\avidemux\config

Don't you have the same, an jobs folder and more is there. When i run v2.5.2 and close it, i notice the files in this folder date increases. Shows the folder is active and still used, i do need each install to be totaly seperate. That is each keeps everything in own install folder, not in documents and settings folders.

Ok so then i uninstall v2.5.2 and install from zip folders v2.5.2 | v2.5.3 and v2.5.4 to see what happens or if all is ok. After making first a sector copy of os drive, just incase. ;)

[nm]

Wonder why i have settings also in documents and settings\myuserfolder\application data\avidemux\config

Don't you have the same, an jobs folder and more is there. When i run v2.5.2 and close it, i notice the files in this folder date increases. Shows the folder is active and still used, i do need each install to be totaly seperate. That is each keeps everything in own install folder, not in documents and settings folders.

Then you'll need to modify the source code to put the config and job files where you want and rebuild the program.
Or write a script that moves the settings in place when you launch Avidemux and then back to a specific storage location when it gets closed.

Personally I think that you are overly paranoid. The config file should be compatible between minor versions. For a "just in case" purpose you can make a quick backup of the folder before using a new version.

[Nexin]

The above reasons i have written maybe of help or not for avidemux, suggestions, observations and input. Not all software like feedback whether good or not, i take it avidemux doean;t like feedback unless it's good. No problem my comments are above, this isn't the avidemux forum afterall. This i know and is not meant to be there non direct feedback. :)

[nm]

i take it avidemux doean;t like feedback unless it's good.

How did you figure this out without ever contacting a developer?

I'm not even a user but at least I give the app its fair value.